Stressed? Work It Out!

By Lainee Mack

Exercise is the most powerful antidote to stress.

With finals season approaching, Flagler College’s sports performance coach, and both students and student athletes alike, remind us that the best way to a strong mind is a strong body.

Flagler College sports performance coach, Connor Gettemy, has an intriguing take on the relationship between physical exercise and mental health, believing that getting in the gym can only ever positively impact an individual’s mental health.

“I’ve never seen someone start hitting the gym and feel worse,” Gettemy said.

According to Gettemy, the act of working out, whatever that may look like, releases neurotransmitters, such as endorphins, the body’s natural mood lifters, throughout the body.

Not only does he say physical exercise is scientifically proven to improve an individual’s overall health and wellbeing, he also says it teaches the individual life skills of accountability, resilience, and discipline, all while serving as a safe space to release stress in a positive way.

“The gym is the best possible place to practice real life. Consequences simultaneously exist but don’t matter. You don’t get fired for failing a bench press, and as for my athletes, the consequence for being late is a wall sit. The gym’s a place to make mistakes so you don’t make them when the stakes are high.”

And as for improving mental health and instilling confidence and trust within yourself, Gettemy believes the gym is a quantifiable way to see progress. The only person you ever answer to in the gym, is yourself. The results you see in the gym are only impacted by you, and no one can take them away from you.

“The bar is never going to lie to you. It’s never gonna hurt you. And it’s never gonna help you. You either move it or you don’t.”

As a gym-goer himself, Gettemy recommends physical exercise to not only college athletes, but Flagler’s students as well. He believes that, especially in a time of high stress, the gym serves as an outlet to release stress and better yourself, in all areas of life.

And as for advice on beginning a gym-journey, Gettemy has some advice for getting started.

“Find the easiest possible win. Find it, and then win it. Once you get that right, you’ll look for the next possible thing you can win and do it again. And as for starting, just drive to the gym and park. Once you get there, you can leave. You went to the gym. Tomorrow, you can go in. It’s all about making progress and finding small wins.”

As the end of fall semester rolls around, Flagler’s students, much like Gettemy, find it important to strengthen their minds by strengthening their bodies.

Flagler softball player, Emily Ricci, is required to partake in physical exercise, such as lifting, through her sport. However, through working out, Ricci has found exercise to be extremely beneficial to her mental health and overall wellbeing, even influencing her to make time outside of her sport for physical exercise.

“I first began working out in 7th grade for softball, but ever since I’ve found a love for it, specifically for lifting. I also love going on walks with my friends,” Ricci said.

Ricci is the perfect example of physical exercise positively impacting mental health, as she believes it helps her feel less stressed, more disciplined in other areas of her life, and most importantly, happier.

“I have a sense of accomplishment and excitement after working out. It makes every other task seem smaller.”

Physical exercise isn’t only helpful to athletes, it can positively impact students as well. Flagler College sophomore, Nateleigh Nachreiner, began working out her senior year of high school.

“My doctor told me it would help my mental health. I started going on runs one day, and now I’m going to the gym. Now it’s a happy thing for me,” Nachreiner said.

Nachreiner not only feels stronger physically, she also feels stronger mentally. She’s noticed she’s energized throughout the day and more disciplined in other areas of her life.

“I used to take naps every day after school. Now I wake up early, no longer take naps, and my grades have gone up.”

Nachreiner, like Gettemy and Ricci, believes everyone should look into going to the gym. She thinks it can make everyone feel better, happier, and mentally tougher.

“My favorite form of exercise is running, but you can’t go wrong with anything. The gym is truly life-changing.”